Latest news with #OperationWolverine
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Severn Bridge weight limit is being enforced say officials
The body responsible for the suspension bridge that connects Wales and England, via the M48 from Chepstow to Aust, was responding to the latest photograph of a lorry that appears to be over the 7.5 tonne limit crossing it emerged. National Highways has said it working with police and other bodies to uphold the ban introduced at the end of May and says it has installed automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, cameras and held a recent enforcement day on the crossing. Chris Pope, of National Highways, said: 'The numbers of vehicles breaching the ban is a small percentage and we are working with local police, through Operation Wolverine, as well as the DVSA and The Traffic Commissioner to prevent infringements and ensure that HGV drivers flouting the ban are dealt with.' He was responding after a photograph of a building supplies tanker crossing the bridge, from Chepstow, was taken on Monday, August 4. Before the temporary weight limit was put in place it was estimated around 10 per cent, or just over 3,200, of the 32,000 vehicle that cross it every day were HGVs over 7.5 tonnes. An enforcement day to support the implementation of the 7.5 tonne weight limit on the M48 Severn Bridge. Picture: National Highways. Drivers failing to abide by the restriction face a potential three penalty points and a £100 fine. Chepstow Bulwark and Thornwell councillor Armand Watts, who has constantly raised concerns over the impact of the weight restriction and how it is being managed, said the photograph raises doubts over its enforcement. He has been seeking information on the use of the ANPR cameras, while in July Monmouthshire councillors were told the cameras are in use but 'success' would depend on the back office capacity of Avon and Somerset Police which has responsibility for the Severn Bridge and the second Severn Crossing Prince of Wales Bridge. Labour's councillor Watts, who also raised his concern policing the restriction could be an additional burden on police, said: 'I've not seen any police at the bridge the last couple of weeks but they've probably got crimes to solve.' Officers from Gwent Police and vehicle licensing agencies were part of the enforcement day. Mr Pope, of the UK Government agency National Highways, said it has installed ANPR cameras, with enforcement supported by Avon and Somerset, while Gwent Police is conducting patrols to catch drivers who ignore the weight restriction. 'Operation Wolverine with Gwent Police is running for three months, and ANPR cameras have also now been installed at either end of the structure. We continue to work at pace with Avon and Somerset Police as we transition from physical enforcement to predominately digital via ANPR cameras,' said Mr Pope. 'There is extensive signage on the approach to the bridge and we have worked hard to raise awareness of the need for the ban including briefing hauliers, Logistics UK and the Road Haulage Association. The weight restrictions are essential to future-proof the bridge and hauliers must observe the signs and take an alternative route if their HGV is over 7.5 tonnes.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Mancunian Way: Exit stage left
He's a self-confessed 'gobs****' who's served his beloved city for almost 35 years. In that time John Warmisham has been front and centre as Salford emerged from the dark days of violence and gangsterism to the staggering achievements of The Lowry arts centre, Media City UK, and colossal regeneration of inner-city districts. But next year the outspoken councillor will be calling time on his long and remarkable town hall career. In this fascinating interview with M.E.N. chief reporter Neal Keeling he looks back on the early experiences which shaped his life-long left wing politics. 'The first time I met him was in 1991 on a grassy knoll in front of the city's then notorious Brindle Heath flats,' writes Neal. 'They were in council ownership and were a shameful stain on the city's housing stock. READ MORE: LIVE: Emergency services descend on Greater Manchester town centre street - latest updates READ MORE: Terrified mum protects screaming kids after masked knifeman 'with gun' turns up at her house and 'opens fire' 'Neglected, dank, a half empty shell, and poorly lit warren of homes in which a dwindling few lived in misery. Fresh-faced and as keen as mustard, as the newly elected councillor for Pendleton he met for a chat and a photograph. His aim was simple: he wanted the block demolished. 'He was not afraid to speak out that day at the inertia of his own council. It is a principle he has maintained throughout his political career.' Coun Warmisham recalls his days as a teenage shop steward and tells how he rejected his father's Christian faith to embrace socialism and trade unionism, before converting to Roman Catholicism in his early 20s. And he explains why he resigned from what he calls the 'immoral' Labour Party after being a member for 40 years and accuses the party of 'losing its moral compass' under Keir Starmer. It's an intriguing portrait of the ups and downs, struggles and hard-earned victories of a principled man who has spent a lifetime fighting for his community. Traffic police swooped when they saw Zac Cooper pull into Tesco in Gorton to fill up his £100,000 khaki-green Audi RS7. The officers, from GMP's Operation Wolverine, seized the 27-year-old social media influencer's beloved car and he hasn't seen it since. Zac suspects police impounded his flash motor because they saw his 'Turkey teeth', shaven head and tattoos and wrongly assumed he was a drug dealer. He told crime reporter John Scheerhout: "My first thought when they stopped me was 'it's a nice car driving through Gorton' so the police thought 'let's pull him', especially with the way I look - it screams out illegal drug dealer.' But Zac, who says he makes his money through his social media channels and managing OnlyFans accounts, insists everything was above board. He's accused GMP of 'stealing' his car and says the seizure means he has lost a £20,000 deposit. The Manchester Evening News asked GMP to comment, specifically on the allegation the force had 'stolen' the car, but a spokeswoman declined to comment. Op Wolverine is GMP's initiative to seize illegal cars 'linked to serious crime'. It removes about a thousand vehicles from the roads every month. Staying with luxury motors for a moment, Chris Slater has been speaking to the senior police officers tasked with tackling the thorny issue of 'car meets'. The controversial gatherings have become a hot topic recently, with drivers filmed speeding through the airport tunnels while hundreds of motorists and spectators turned up to 'Spring Drive Day' in Alderley Edge. A backlash led organisers to complain they were being 'tarred with the same brush' by the public and unfairly 'targeted' by police. But Supt Andy Blizard, from Cheshire Police, warned of drivers 'playing up' to watching crowds, speeding and performing dangerous stunts 'for likes on social media'. Damp, grey and covered in mould, even its champions admit it's 'pretty hard to love'. But for a certain type of architecture buff the Grade II-listed Hollaway Wall off London Road is an artwork worthy of much acclaim. However, just like its better-known and much-derided soulmate in Piccadilly Gardens, developers also want to knock part of the 225ft long sculpture down. Here we report on the fight to save Manchester's ';other Berlin Wall'. Jenna Campbell has joined her fair share of queues. There's been massive cake slices, giant beauty giveaways and teen-sensation pop stars. And now she's stood in line for a table at Chinatown's new viral restaurant Kung Fu Noodles. You can read her thoughts on the food - and the psychology of queuing - here. Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here. Scorchio: It looks like we're for a cracking week weather-wise, with wall-to-wall sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the high teens. Roadworks: One lane is closed in both directions on Chester Road, Stretford due to gas main work. Expect delays. Shooting: A mum has spoken of her ordeal after a masked man armed with a knife and a 'gun' turned up at her house in Bury and 'opened fire'. Read more Train delays: Passengers on Northern and TransPennine Express services faced long delays this morning following a train fault in Manchester. A number of services were also cancelled following an incident at Ashburys. Suspect hunt: Police are hunting for a second suspect after a man was slashed with a knife in Stockport. A 45-year-old-man has been arrested in connection with the attack on Lancashire Hill on Friday night. More here
